Semiconductor module and driving apparatus including semiconductor module

Abstract

In a semiconductor module, a high-potential side conductor includes a wide section on which the high-potential side switching element is mounted, a high-potential side terminal coupled with a high potential source, and a narrow section extending from the wide section to the high-potential side terminal in a first direction. The wide section is wider than the narrow section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The wide section has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the second direction. A distance between the first side of the wide section and a low-potential side conductor is shorter than a distance between the second side of the wide section and the low-potential side conductor. The narrow section extends from a portion of the wide section closer to the first side than the second side.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A semiconductor module comprising:
 a plurality of switching elements that forms an inverter converting a direct current to an alternating current, the plurality of switching elements including a high-potential side switching element and a low-potential side switching element, the high-potential side switching element coupled to a higher potential side than the low-potential side switching element; 
 a high-potential side conductor on which the high-potential side switching element is mounted, the high-potential side conductor extending in a first direction and including a high-potential side terminal coupled with a high potential source, the high-potential side conductor coupled with a drain or a drain equivalent electrode of the high-potential side switching element; 
 a load side conductor on which the low-potential side switching element is mounted, the load side conductor including a load side terminal coupled with a load, the load side conductor coupled with a drain or a drain equivalent electrode of the low-potential side switching element; 
 a low-potential side conductor extending in the first direction and including a low-potential side terminal coupled with a low potential source; 
 a first connection conductor coupling a source or a source equivalent electrode of the high-potential side switching element and the load side conductor; 
 a second connection conductor coupling a source or a source equivalent electrode of the low-potential side switching element and the low-potential side conductor; 
 a molded member integrally covering the high-potential side switching element, the low-potential side switching element, the high-potential side conductor, the load side conductor, the low-potential side conductor, the first connection conductor, and the second connection conductor, 
 wherein the high-potential side conductor further includes a wide section on which the high-potential side switching element is mounted and a narrow section extending from the wide section to the high-potential side terminal in the first direction, 
 wherein the wide section is wider than the narrow section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, 
 wherein the wide section has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the second direction, 
 wherein a distance between the first side of the wide section and the low-potential side conductor is shorter than a distance between the second side of the wide section and the low-potential side conductor, and 
 wherein the narrow section extends from a portion of the wide section closer to the first side than the second side. 
 
     
     
       2. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the narrow section of the high-potential side conductor is disposed adjacent to the low-potential side conductor. 
 
     
     
       3. The semiconductor module according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the load side conductor is disposed on the same side of the low-potential side conductor as the high-potential side conductor such that the load side conductor is disposed adjacent to the low-potential side conductor, 
 wherein the load side conductor includes a wide section on which the low-potential side switching element is mounted and a narrow section extending from the wide section of the load side conductor to the load side terminal, and 
 wherein the wide section of the load side conductor is wider than the narrow section. 
 
     
     
       4. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the load side conductor extends in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein one of the first connection conductor and the second connection conductor includes a bonding wire. 
 
     
     
       6. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein one of the first connection conductor and the second connection conductor includes a copper clip. 
 
     
     
       7. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein one of the first connection conductor and the second connection conductor includes a shunt resistor. 
 
     
     
       8. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the high-potential side switching element, the low-potential side switching element, the high-potential side conductor, the load side conductor, the low-potential side conductor, the first connection conductor, and the second connection conductor form a semiconductor unit, and 
 the semiconductor module further comprising one or more of the semiconductor units. 
 
     
     
       9. The semiconductor module according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of control terminals to which control signals of the high-potential side switching element and the low-potential side switching element are input, 
 wherein the plurality of control terminals is disposed in an opposite direction from the high-potential side terminal and the low-potential side terminal. 
 
     
     
       10. A driving apparatus comprising:
 a motor including a winding; and 
 a control unit disposed on a side of the motor in an axial direction of the motor, the control unit including the semiconductor module according to  claim 1 , a heat sink on which the semiconductor module is mounted, and a substrate electrically coupled with the semiconductor module, 
 wherein the semiconductor module is electrically coupled with the winding as the load, and 
 wherein the heat sink is configured to receive heat generated in the semiconductor module.